Top Five Kinds of Bad Stock Photos

Top Five Kinds of Bad Stock Photos

When I hear people say things like that, I swallow my tears, slap my face and say to myself “Shut up! Stop it! You weak— You baby! Shut up!” Then I collect myself and move on.

But it’s partly true. Imagery always gets the spotlight. That’s why, when using stock photography, it’s important to make the right choice. But there are so many bad ones. And we sift through them daily.

#5 | The HandshakeNothing says “win” like this legally nonbinding gesture. Do an image search on “deal,” “partnership” or “agreement” and you’ll be treated with every permutation of hot palm-on-palm action, from intimate couples to celebratory group gropes.

#4 | The Game PieceJudging by the stock photo canon, business people love jigsaw puzzles. Sometimes it’s just two huge backlit pieces, which doesn’t seem like much of a challenge. Often it’s all one color, which seems challenging but unsatisfying. Also, watch out for exciting mixed metaphors!

#3 | The FisheyeThe wide-angle lens is useful for capturing panoramas, but that’s not how it’s used. Instead, stock photographers use it create caricatures so silly that, like a black hole, no good ideas can escape. It’s a way to say, “My brand has the same sense of humor as a Nickelodeon audience yearning for a bucket of slime to be dumped on its head.”

#2 | The Writing on the Invisible WallA whiteboard can be a useful ideation tool. But denizens of Stockphotoland prefer writing backwards on windows. It’s a good skill if you’re ever trapped on a train with only a Sharpie.